NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

May 31, 2023

Haywood Highsmith

Miami Heat

Media Day

Q. Talk to us about how you're feeling, to be here in Denver against all odds, 8th seed, 3 percent chance of making it, and here we are.

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: It feels amazing to be here. I always dreamed about this as a kid, so it's going to be fun. Nobody gave us a shot, but we knew we could get here somehow, some way. So, excited to be here.

Q. Talk about nobody giving a shot, you are one of the undrafted players on the Heat roster. This is an incredible team. What does it feel like to have that and say, I'm here and I made it despite all the odds against me?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Like I said before, it feels amazing. I'm going to say that word a lot, obviously, "amazing." Everybody had different journeys getting here. Everybody got here with different paths. But now that we're here, we're excited to be here. I'm excited to be here. Just ready. Ready to play.

Q. You got a lot more playing time in Game 7 than previous games. How was that for you?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Game 7 is one of the best two words in the NBA. It was a great game against the Celtics. I dreamed of playing in Game 7s growing up both when I was younger, so it's pretty cool. I'm glad we got the win, but it's past us now and now we're focused on the Nuggets.

Q. You've been with the Heat for about a year and a half now, and obviously a lot has been made about the undrafted guys who have contributed to this roster. What's so special about the player development programs in Miami that allow you guys to be so successful? What's special about Spo and Pat and all the other guys?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, they see something in us that nobody else saw in us as undrafted guys, kind of like hidden gems. They believe in us, and they do a great job with developing us and taking us up under their wing and just making us be the best players we can be. They just do a great job all around.

Q. What's the story behind your first name?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: I'm a junior, so it was my father's name. You'd have to ask his father, but he's not alive right now. I don't know the story behind it, honestly.

Q. Do you hear about that a lot? That's like a classic name.

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, I've heard it's like an old name. I've heard it's a last name, too. So yeah, I don't know. I'm a junior. I don't know the story behind it.

Q. What about Highsmith? You've got an epic name.

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: I've heard that. Yeah, I don't know. Just my father's last name, as well. I don't know. I guess I've got like H's in my family or something.

Q. Where is your father from?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: My father is from Kingsville, Maryland, so it's like Baltimore County.

Q. Any concerns with the fact that you wrapped up Game 7 on Monday? Any concerns about not having enough rest? The Nuggets have been sitting cozy for over a week now. Is there any concern with the big turnaround you're going to be having?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: No, we have no concern at all. No excuses around here. We still feel fresh. We got two days off after Game 7, so we've got no excuses from us at all.

Q. This team had a recent Finals appearance a couple years ago, but it was in the bubble. How fun is it to have the full Finals experience and be able to play games at home with the crowd, feel the energy of the city?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, I wasn't in the bubble, so I can't really speak from my personal experience how it was. But I'm pretty sure it was not the same, playing in front of fans, just playing in the type of environment, like Mile High City or Miami where it's going to be. It's going to be fun. It's going to be exciting. A lot of energy in the building, so it's definitely going to be different than the bubble.